Railway pilot structure



Nov. 29, 1938. E. G. HALLQUIST RAILWAY PILOT` STRUCTURE Filed June 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 29, 1938. E, G. HALLQUls-r RAILWAY PILOT STRUCTURE Filed June 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In Ven 7L0r Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY PILOT STRUCTURE Application June 26, 1936, Serial No. 87,486

9 Claims.

The invention relates to railway locomotive pilot, coupler, coupler counterbalance and uncoupling mechanism and consists in novel construction and assembly of these parts whereby they may be moved into one position for the coupler to function by engaging an adjacent vehicle or into another position in which the coupler is moved out of functioning position and the pilot assumes a form and appearance substantially as though a coupler were not mounted thereon. In such constructions, the pilot is recessed to receive the coupler and reference is made to Patent No. 1,724,194, issued to the present applicant on August 13, 1929 and illustrating an arrangement of this general type.

One object of the present invention is to Strengthen a pilot of this recessed type whereby in the event of the pilot striking an object on the track there will be less likelihood of the pilot or the coupler structure mounted thereon being injured.

Another object of the invention is to maintain a continuous smooth surface from side to side of the pilot and from top to bottom thereof when the coupler is moved out of functioning position, thereby improving the appearance of the forward end of the locomotive in accordance with more recent designs of locomotive structure in which smooth contours and streamlining effects are being sought.

The above mentioned objects are attained by mounting the coupler so that its head swings upwardly and rearwardly from its functioning position and a portion spaced from its head swings` forwardly to close the front part of the recess in the pilot through which the coupler shank and head project when in functioning position. This arrangement makes it impossible to utilize the usual uncoupling rod mechanism extending over the top of the coupler, and another object of the present invention is to adapt uncoupling mechanism operated from the side of the pilot in the usual manner so that it will accommodate movement of the coupler head and shank as described above.

These general and other detailed objects of the invention are attained by the illustrativestructure shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of the forward end of those parts of a locomotive to which the present invention relates, including the pilot beam, pilot, coupler, and uncoupling mechanism, the coupler head being shown in functioning position.

Figure 2 is a section through the pilot beam and pilot taken longitudinally of the locomotive but with the coupler device shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a top view of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the pilot taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a partial front elevation of the structure.

Between the forward ends of the locomotive side frames I is mounted a front end central member 2 .and exteriorly of frames I are front end side members 3, members 2 and 3 cooperating to form a pilot beam. A locomotive pilot Il is bolted to this pilot beam as indicated at 5. Central end member 2 has depending brackets 2a for backing up the pilot, and side members 3 have similar depending brackets 3a. Preferably the pilot mounting provides for vertical adjustment of the pilot towards and from the rail as is well known in the art.

The pilot front wall l has an inclined rounded nose or central portion and extends outwardly and rearwardly therefrom to merge at the top and sides in substantially flattened wall sections 8 and 9, respectively. The angular section I5 extends transversely of the structure between the lower rear corners of wall sections 9, and reinforcing ribs II brace the structure inter--l mediate its sides. Preferably the pilot is cast in one piece with steps I2 formed integrally thereon and merging with the forward wall. The forward upper central part of the nose portion -has a U-shaped recess as indicated at R.

The coupler device includes a head I3, a shank I4, and a counterbalance I5. The head and shank are integral with each other and the rear of the shank comprises spaced jaws I6 receiving between them a portion of the counterbalance, the shank and counterbalance being pivoted together by pin I'l whereby these two parts of the buffer device may have relative movement transversely of the pilot. A horizontal pin IB is seated in bearings I9 in the pilot and passes through the end of counterbalanceA I5 and pivotally mounts the latter and the coupler so they may swing in a vertical plane.

The coupler device may be swung about pivot I8 to a functioning position (shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5) in which coupler head I3 extends forwardly from pin I8 and projects beyond front wall I to engage the coupler (not shown) of an adjacent vehicle. In this position counterbalance I5 extends rearwardlyfrom pin I8 with the top r of its rear end abutting a stop 20 projecting downwardly from front end casting 2.

Or the coupler device may be swung upwardly and rearwardly to a retracted position, as indicated in Figure 2, in which the coupler head and shank is moved out of recess R and a web provided on the bottom of the coupler device swings forwardly into the position indicated to close the forward` end. of recess R and to cooperate with front wall 'I of the pilot to provide a substantially continuous smooth surface from side to side and from top to bottom of the piloti.

'Ihe front wall of the pilot has restricted depressions or offset portions at 2l and the sides 22 of these depressions provide bearings for a readily removable pin 23 which ma-ybe passed through the coupler shank, to hold the coupler device in functioning position, or` may be passed through lugs 24 in the coupler device to hold it in retracted position.

The uncoupling rod includes side portions 26 mounted inv brackets 2l and extending outwardly to the sides of the car terminating in handle portions 28 for manual operation- The intermediate portion 29k of the uncoupling member must accommodate the upward andv rearward movement of the coupler head and shank and` this portion is made U-shaped'` with the ends of its legs pivoted on the inner ends of side portions 26, the latter having offsets 30 which, when handles 28 are raised, will positivelyengage the legs of portion- 29: to lift the coupling pin 3|v from the coupler head. At the same time the intermediate portion 2i) of the uncoupling rod is free tobe swung back to the position shown in Figure 2 where it clears the coupler head.

The construction described provides for balanced type of coupler which may be moved readily from operating tovretracted position and, when in retracted position,l closes the opening in the pilot required for the coupler when in operating position thus improving the appearance and obstacle engaging surface of the pilot by swinging the coupler upwardly instead of downwardly. The recess in the frontv of the pilot is much smaller than is required in my above mentioned patent and the pilot may be made substantially stronger for a given amount of material. The opening in the front of the pilot is completely closed wheny the coupler is retracted and only. a smallamount of the coupler structure is visible.

Obviously many of the details of the structure may be varied without departing from the spirit vof the invention and: the exclusive use of such modifications as come within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What isv claimed is: Y

1. In combination, a locomotive pilot having a forwardly and upwardly opening recess, a coupler movably mounted on said pilot and including a head which may be projected forwardly from said recess into position to couple with anV adjacent vehicle or may be raised from said position out of said recess, saidV coupler including a portion spaced from said head and closing the front end of said recess substantially from side to side and from top to bottom when saidl head is raised.

2. In combination, a locomotive pilot having a front wall with a rounded'nose and having a recess in its upper portion, a coupler including a head and a curved web spaced from said head, said coupler being pivotally mounted in said pilot to swing about a horizontal axis from a position, in which said head will project forwardly from said recess and beyond said wall, to a position in which said head will be located rearwardly of said wall and said web will move forwardly in said recess and continue the surface of said wall across the front of said recess.

3. In combination, a locomotive pilot having a front wall provided with a recess, a coupler device pivotally mounted in said pilot and including a headand a counterbalance on opposite sides of its pivot, said coupler device being movable about its pivotl from a position in which said head projects forwardly from said recess, to engage the coupler of an adjacent vehicle, to a position above said recess, said coupler device lincludingv a web which when said head is raised moves forwardly toy close said recess.

4. In combination, a locomotive pilot having a, front wall', with,` an upwardly and forwardly opening recess, a coupler pivotally mounted in said pilot to swing about a horizontal axis and including a head and a counterbalance on opposite sides of said` axis, said coupler being movable from a position in whichr said head extends forwardly from, said axis to a raised position in which: said head extends upwardly and rearwardly from said axis, saidcoupler also including a portion closing the front of said recess and having a wall-litrev part with its edges lying ush` with the adjacent portions of said pilot wall when said head is in the latter-mentioned position.

5. In a railway pilot, a rear wall, a front wall, members extending between said walls, bearing elements in'said members for seating a coupler supporting pin, said front wall having a forwardly and upwardly opening recess in front of said bearing elementsfor receiving and providing for the upward movement of a couplerV head rearwardly of the normal front face of the pilot, and said rear wall having a rearwardly and downwardly opening recess at the rear of said bearing elements for receiving and providing for the downward movement of a coupler counterbalance.

6. In combination, a locomotive pilot having a front wall, a coupler pivotally mounted on said pilot and movable from a-position in which its head projects forwardly from said wall, upwardlly andrearwardly tov a retracted position where its head is at therear of said wall, an uncoupling lever rod' extend-ing across4 said pilot and pivotally mounted above said coupler andincluding a Uz-shaped portion extendingforwardly over saidhead whenthe latter is in projected positionA and extending` rearwardly and receiving said head when thelatter is in retracted position.

7. I-n combination,` a locomotive pilot, a coupler having a horizontal pivot mounting on said -pilot and movable from a position in which its head projects forwardly from said mounting beyondA said pilot to a retracted position in which its head projects upwardly andA rearwardly from said mounting, an uncoupling lever cornprising portions pivotally mounted on said pilot at the sides` of said;` coupler, and a central U- shaped portion overlying saidY coupler with" its legs. pivotally mounted on the inner ends of said side portions and movable with said head to said vretracted position independently of said side portions.

'8'. In combination, a locomotive pilot having a front wall provided'with a recess, a coupler device pivotally mounted in saidi pilot to. swing to coupling and4 uncoupling positions respectively, said 75 device including a plate-like member retracted Within said recess When said device is moved to coupling position and forming a continuation of the front Wall of said pilot and closing said recess when said device is moved to uncoupling position.

9. In combination, a locomotive pilot having a front Wall provided with a recess, a coupler device comprising a shank and a head mounted in said pilot to swing about a horizontal axis to a position with its head projecting forwardly of said Wall or to a position in which a portion of said device at the rear of said head closes the opening of said recess and forms a substantially continuous extension of said Wall across said opening, said portion being positioned behind said front Wall when said head is in projected position.

EINAR G. HALLQUIST. 

